01/29/2026
City of LaBelle Selected for Early Childhood Program with the National League of Cities
(January 27, 2026)- LABELLE, FL- The City of LaBelle is proud to join the Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab, a new peer-learning cohort led by the National League of Cities (NLC). This nine-month technical assistance program aims to drive local action for the prenatal-to-three population. The initiative will focus on strategies to address key contributors to poor maternal and infant outcomes, including climate and environmental factors, family economic insecurity, and housing instability.
The City of LaBelle will receive technical assistance from NLC that connects city staff with early childhood experts, peer networks, tailored resources, and real-world city examples. Throughout the length of the initiative, leaders will refine their strategic vision and develop actionable commitments on behalf of the youngest residents in their cities through collaborative cohort discussions, as well as guidance from national partners and NLC staff.
“As mayor, I discovered the most strategic investment we can make is in our people. Specifically in our youngest residents. Quality early childcare does triple duty for our city. Access to quality childcare enables parents to work and contribute fully to our economy, it prepares children to succeed in school and life, and it attracts talented families. New businesses will want to put down roots here, where their employees have great quality of life. When we expand access to early childhood programs, we are building a better quality of life for our residents, which gives them options and competitive advantages that will define our city's success for the next generation”, Julie Wilkins stated.
“Every child can flourish when communities invest in healthy environments, stable housing, and economic security – that's why the Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab is essential to the next generation,” Clarence E. Anthony, CEO and Executive Director of the National League of Cities.
Through the Impact Lab, LaBelle hopes to gain the tools, frameworks, and peer learning needed to build an early childhood strategy that is fully integrated into our city’s economic and community development agenda. This includes an actionable Early Childhood and Workforce Strategies that guides policy decisions, attracts investment, and expands opportunities for families.
LaBelle is joined by 15 other cities in the Prenatal-to-Three Impact Lab:
• City of Austin, TX
• City of Cambridge, MA
• City of College Park, MD
• City of East Orange, NJ
• City of Henderson, NV
• City of Houston, TX
• City of LaBelle, FL
• City of Louisville, KY
• City of Madison, WI
• City of Milwaukee, WI
• City of New Haven, CT
• City of New Orleans, LA
• City of Park City, UT
• City of Toledo, OH
• City of Tulsa, OK
• City of Vancouver, WA
The City of LaBelle National League of Cities
